ISLAMABAD, Aug 6, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Former Pakistan prime minister Imran
Khan's three-year sentence for graft prompted scattered rallies around the
country, but there was no sign of any mass uprising Sunday despite his call
for supporters to protest.

His imprisonment has raised fresh concerns of violence ahead of an election
due later this year -- that he is now disqualified from contesting -- and has
cast doubt on the fairness of any vote that excludes him.

His lawyers complained Sunday they were being denied access to him for
consultations so they can mount urgent legal challenges against his
conviction.

They also raised concern for his confinement at Attock Jail, established 100
years ago on the outskirts of historical Attock city, around 60 kilometres
(40 miles) west of the capital, Islamabad.

"He is a 70-year-old man and a former elected prime minister so legally he
should be given a better class (of conditions) inside the jail," said Gohar
Khan, a member of his legal team.

Officials from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said around 50
supporters had been detained overnight as police moved swiftly against
protests after Khan was arrested and whisked to jail.

At a court hearing Khan did not attend Saturday, a judge found him guilty of
graft in relation to gifts he received while prime minister and sentenced him
to three years in jail.

Anyone convicted of a criminal offence is disqualified from contesting
elections in Pakistan, and government spokeswoman Marriyum Aurangzeb said
Sunday that parliament would likely be dissolved on Wednesday -- days ahead
of the end of its natural term.

"Three days of our government are left... the Election Commission has already
started its preparations," said Aurangzeb.

This would give the incoming interim government until mid-November to hold an
election, but there is already speculation it could be delayed following the
release Saturday of the country's latest census data.

Law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told a local television channel that
constituencies would have to be redrawn according to the new census, warning
there could be a delay to polls of up to two and a half months.

- Previous violence -

Khan's arrest and detention for three days in connection with the same case
in May sparked deadly violence when his supporters took to the streets in the
tens of thousands, clashing with police.

In the aftermath of his release, PTI has been targeted by a crackdown with
thousands of arrests, reports of intimidation and muzzling of the press.

Khan was prime minister until April last year, when he was ousted in a vote
of no-confidence he says was engineered by the country's powerful military.

Soon after police picked him up from his home in Lahore Saturday, a pre-
recorded video was released on Khan's social media accounts calling for his
supporters to protest in force.

"I have just one request and appeal, that you are not to sit silently at
home," he said.

"This is a war for justice, for your rights, for your freedom... chains don't
just fall off, they have to be broken. You must continue peaceful protest
until you get your rights."

But party officials said Sunday there were no plans for a nationwide call to
protest.

"As far as protests go, there's not a planned one as yesterday protesters
were raided by the police and detained," an official, who asked not to be
named, said.

Police were deployed in major centres across the country after Khan's arrest,
and moved quickly to disperse gatherings of PTI supporters.

Officials said around 35 people were detained in eastern Lahore, and 20 in
the port city of Karachi.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northern province that has long been a Khan
stronghold, authorities said more than 150 PTI supporters had been picked up.

- Political turmoil -

Khan's jailing will do little to calm the economic and political unrest that
has roiled the nation for the past 18 months.

"Everyone will ask questions about the credibility of elections in the
absence of PTI and Imran Khan and questions will be raised about the
credibility of elections in the outside world as well," political analyst
Hasan Askari told AFP.

Khan rose to power in 2018 on a wave of popular support, an anti-corruption
manifesto, and the backing of the powerful military establishment.

When he was ousted in April last year, analysts said it was because he lost
the support of the top generals.

Khan has faced a slew of court cases on charges he says are politically
motivated since being ousted.

The case that has led to his imprisonment centres on gifts he and his wife
received while in office.

Pakistan newspapers have for months carried lurid stories alleging Khan and
his wife received lavish presents worth millions during trips abroad --
including luxury watches, jewellery, designer handbags and perfumes.

Government officials must declare all gifts, but are allowed to keep those
below a certain value or buy them at an officially agreed price.